Young poets capture Canadian moments with poetry

Ottawa – This evening, the Ottawa 2017 Bureau and Mayor Jim Watson, in collaboration with lead partner CIBC, the Ottawa Public Library and Ottawa’s four local school boards, held a PoeTree Planting Ceremony to celebrate young writers who created poems for the Mayor’s Poetry Contest in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday.

The initiative and tonight’s event engaged students from Conseil des écoles publiques de l’est de l’Ontario, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ottawa Carleton District School Board and Ottawa Catholic School Board in our sesquicentennial celebrations.

Students were invited to submit poems that capture in words, a Canadian moment or image.

More than 60 poems will be hung from especially created PoeTrees and displayed in the Beaverbrook, Alta Vista, North Gloucester and Main library branches until the end of May. Then, from early June to September 4, the PoeTrees will be showcased at Inspiration Village in the ByWard Market.

Here is a small sampling, in both official languages, of poems that were submitted:

Attention! L’homme hiver arrive

Il marche dans le tourment des fées du froid.

Attention! Il arrive! Cours avant qu’il te couvre de givre

Jimena, Grade 6, CEPEO

I am different

Yet Canada welcomes me,

One-fifty years strong!

Roman, Grade 6, OCDSB

Red and white like sun and snow

Canada is a free and fun country

Come and stay for Canada’s 150th birthday!

Rachel, Grade 5, OCSB

Le Canada, c’est mon pays.

En paix et en amour

Le meilleur de ma vie

Liam, Grade 2, CECCE

About Ottawa 2017Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations offer Canadians and visitors from around the world an exceptional and memorable year of high-caliber experiences while bringing a record number of visitors to Ottawa in 2017 to celebrate this important milestone for our country.

Ottawa 2017 thanks its lead partner CIBC, premier partner Bell, the Government of Ontario (www.ontario.ca/150 #ontario150) and the Government of Canada (www.canada.ca/150 #canada150) for their contributions in helping to deliver twelve full months of bold events, immersive experiences and all-out celebrations.

Stay informed on plans for Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations in the capital. Visit ottawa2017.ca, follow us on Twitter @2017ottawa (#Ottawa2017) and on Facebook.